Chapter X.

That the word flesh is not used with one single meaning
only.

We find that the word
flesh is used in holy Scripture with many different meanings: for
sometimes it stands for the whole man, i.e., for that which consists of
body and soul, as here “And the Word was made
flesh,”12951295 S. John i. 14. and “All
flesh shall see the salvation of our God.”12961296 S. Luke iii. 6. Sometimes it stands for sinful and carnal
men, as here “My spirit shall not remain in those men, because
they are flesh.”12971297Gen. vi. 3. Sometimes it is
used for sins themselves, as here: “But ye are not in the flesh
but in the spirit,”12981298Rom. viii. 9. and again
“Flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of God:”
lastly there follows, “Neither shall corruption inherit
incorruption.”129912991 Cor. xv. 50. Sometimes it
stands for consanguinity and relationship, as here: “Behold we
are thy bone and thy flesh,”130013002 Sam. v. 1. and the
Apostle says: “If by any means I may provoke to emulation them
who are my flesh, and save some of them.”13011301Rom. xi. 14.
We must therefore inquire in which of these four meanings we ought to
take the word flesh in this place, for it is clear that it cannot
possibly stand as in the passage where it is said “The Word was
made flesh,” and “All flesh shall see the salvation of
God.” Neither can it have the same meaning as where it is said
“My Spirit shall not remain in those men because they are
flesh,” because the word flesh is not used here as it is there
where it stands simply for a sinful man—when he says” The
flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the
flesh.”13021302Gal. v. 17. Nor is he
speaking of things material, but of realities which in one and the same
man struggle either at the same time or separately, with the shifting
and changing of time.